A businessman who runs a Southend pub and music venue has spoken of his heartbreak of having to close its doors due to “crippling” business rates.

The Dickens, which sits just off Southend high street near the college, only opened its doors in April last year after ambitious friends got together to bring it back to life.

The pub, which was the Dickens Inn before O’Neill’s took over more than a decade ago, was opened by three businessmen, all born and raised in Southend who were keen to return it to its former style.

Chris Endicott, George Sutton and Jim Lawrence - who are all from Southend - were keen to offer Southend revellers something different but unfortunately the venture proved to be untenable.

Mr Endicott, 48, said: “To be honest I am absolutely gutted.

“The business rates completely crippled us. We tried to come to an agreement with them but it didn’t happen.

“We also had noise complaints, even though it’s a really old pub, so we had difficulties with music.

“It just got on top of us and we very reluctantly decided it was best to cease trading.”

Last year, the trio heard on the grapevine that the venue was available and Mr Endicott had been looking for somewhere to run live music nights so the opportunity seemed to be perfect.

Mr Endicott added: “I am absolutely gutted but things happen.

“We invested an awful lot of money into it and I feel very sorry for the staff and the good customers that we had. We tried to do something a bit different and we were optimistic about it at the time but it was just untenable.”

The pub on the ground floor was open until 12pm while the music venue, used on Fridays and Saturdays, stayed open until 2am.

Mr Endicott, who also runs Britannia Safety in London Road, said: “I am just going to be focusing on my family security business now. 2018 will be the year to move on. I think the high street will be poorer for it.

“I hope whoever takes it on can turn it around.”